Players of the Week

OHL Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that defenceman Mark Katic of the Sarnia Sting is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 1. Katic had seven points in three Sting victories tallying one goal and six assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-3.

Katic began his week Wednesday night with a goal and an assist as third star of the game in the 6-3 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. On Friday night the Sting played host to the OHL’s top ranked team the Windsor Spitfires. Katic assisted on the first three goals including Jamie Arniel’s game-winner on the power play late in the second period, leading the Sting to a 4-2 victory. Katic was named second star of the game. His week concluded Saturday with a first star performance against the Kingston Frontenacs assisting on both goals in the 2-1 home win. The three wins place the Sting in sixth place in the Western Conference with 68 points.

Katic, a 19-year-old from Porcupine, ON, is in his fourth OHL season with the Sting. The two-time All-Star is enjoying the best season of his career with 11 goals and 35 assists for 46 points in 56 games where he is ranked 11th amongst OHL defencemen in scoring. Katic was selected in the third round, 62nd overall at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders.

Plymouth Whalers’ forwards Chris Terry and last week’s winner Matt Caria were both considered for the award this week. Terry had a five-point game Sunday with one goal and four assists and was named first star of the game in a 6-3 win over the Erie Otters. Caria’s week was highlighted by his first star performance Friday scoring two goals and two assists in a 6-3 win over the Kitchener Rangers. Thomas McCollum allowed just one goal in two games between the pipes for the Brampton Battalion. He was first star with 28 saves Friday night shutting out the Niagara IceDogs 6-0.

2008-09 Boston Pizza OHL Players of the Week

Mar. 2 – Mark Katic, Sarnia Sting
Feb. 23 – Matt Caria, Plymouth Whalers
Feb. 16 – Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers
Feb. 9 – Tyler Seguin, Plymouth Whalers
Feb. 2 – Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion
Jan. 26 – Thomas McCollum, Brampton Battalion
Jan. 19 – Brett Parnham, Oshawa Generals
Jan. 12 – Marcus Carroll, Owen Sound Attack
Jan. 5 – Eric O’Dell, Sudbury Wolves
Dec. 15 – Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
Dec. 8 – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Dec. 1 – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Nov. 24 – Eric Tangradi, Belleville Bulls
Nov. 17 – Mathew Sisca, Niagara IceDogs
Nov. 10 – Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion
Nov. 3 – Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 27 – Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 20 – Brandon Foote, Brampton Battalion
Oct. 13 – Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 6 – Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Sept. 29 – Luke Pither, Guelph Storm
Sept. 22 – Matt Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

WHL Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Mitch Fadden of the Tri-City Americans.
Fadden picked up seven points, scoring six goals and one assist to go with a +4 rating in four games over the past week, helping the Americans post a 4-0-0-0 record in that span.

On Wednesday, February 25th, the Americans welcomed the Chilliwack Bruins to the Toyota Centre for a WHL Western Conference clash. Fadden scored twice as the Ams downed the Bruins 8-1 and was named the games 2nd Star.

On Friday, February 27th the Americans travelled to Everett to face the Silvertips at the Comcast Arena. Fadden picked up a goal and an assist in the 5-4 win over the ‘Tips and was named 3rd Star in the contest. The next evening, Saturday, February 28th, the Ams travelled to Spokane to re-new rivalries with the Memorial Cup Champion Chiefs at the Veteran Memorial Arena. Fadden netted another two goals as the Americans defeated the Chiefs 5-2 in their tenth meeting this season with the Ams holding the edge in that season series 5-3-0-2. Fadden was also named the games 1st Star.

To round out the week the Americans were at home on Sunday, March 1st, hosting the Portland Winter Hawks. Fadden scored one goal as the Americans downed the Hawks 5-3.

Fadden’s seven points over the last four games has him sitting 16th among all WHL scorers with 73 points (36 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games and extends the WHL’s longest goal scoring streak this season to eight games. The Americans have won their last nine games and sit comfortable in second spot in the WHL Western Conference with 97 points and a 47-16-03 record.

Fadden, a 20-year-old from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, is rounding out is fifth full season of play in the WHL in a career that began back in 2003 with the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round Draft pick in 2007 has appeared in 334 WHL contests picking up 315 career points thus far (105 goals, 210 assists).

The WHL has also nominated Mark Guggenberger of the Kelowna Rockets for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Guggenberger posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week, stopping 51 of 53 shots faced for a 1.000 goals-against average and .962 save percentage.

Guggenberger, a 19 year-old from Richfield, Minnesota, is in his second season of play in the WHL. Since joining the Kelowna Rockets from the Swift Current Broncos earlier this year he has posted an impressive 11-3-1-2 record.

Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week
Sept. 18 – Sept. 21: Jordan Weal, Regina Pats
Sept. 22 – Sept. 28: Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Sept. 29 – Oct. 5: Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 6 – Oct. 12: Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 13 – Oct. 19: Jay Fehr, Brandon Wheat Kings
Oct. 20 – Oct. 26: Jamie Benn, Kelowna Rockets
Oct. 27 – Nov. 2: Dana Tyrell, Prince George Cougars
Nov. 3 – Nov. 9: C.J. Stretch, Kamloops Blazers
Nov. 10 – Nov. 16: Andy Smith, Chilliwack Bruins
Nov. 17 – Nov. 23: Scott Glennie, Brandon Wheat Kings
Nov. 24 – Nov. 30: Taylor Procyshen, Tri-City Americans
Dec. 1 – Dec. 7: Brett Sonne, Calgary Hitmen
Dec. 8 – Dec. 14: Ian Duval, Moose Jaw Warriors
Dec. 15 – Dec. 28: Brandon Kozun, Calgary Hitmen
Dec. 29 – Jan. 4: Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Jan. 5 – Jan. 11: Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants
Jan. 12 – Jan. 18: Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings
Jan. 19 – Jan. 25: Keith Seabrook, Calgary Hitmen
Jan. 26 – Feb. 1: Drayson Bowman, Spokane Chiefs
Feb. 2 – Feb. 8: Matt Calvert, Brandon Wheat Kings
Feb. 9 – Feb. 15: Brandon Kozun, Calgary Hitmen
Feb. 16 – Feb. 22: Tyler Ennis, Medicine Hat Tigers
Feb. 23 – Mar. 1: Mitch Fadden, Tri-City Americans

QMJHL Players of the Week

BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, March 2, 2009 – P.E.I. Rocket forward Benjamin Casavant and Shawinigan Cataractes defenseman Alex Grant today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from February 23 to March 1.

Casavant scored six goals, including a game-winner, and added two helpers in three games, helping the Rocket win two out of three. Moreover, he posted a +4 rating. Casavant had his best showing on Saturday, collecting a hat-trick and adding an assist in a 5-3 victory over the Sea Dogs at the Charlottetown Civic Centre.

Mikhail Stefanovich (Remparts), Guillaume Goulet (Drakkar) and Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll (Cataractes) were also considered.

Grant gets the nod on defence after scoring two goals, including a game-winner, and adding four assists in three Cataractes wins. He also posted a +7 rating and registered five hits. Grant played his best game of the week on Thursday, recording three points in a win over the Saguenéens. The Cataractes are second in the overall standings with 102 points.

Jan Piskacek (Screaming Eagles), Timo Pielmeier (Cataractes) and Alain Goulet (Olympiques) were also strong candidates.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)